Re: VZW internal blacklist?

"Scott Stephenson" <scott.stephensonson@adelphia.net> wrote in message
newsO6dnVWMXty-vg3dRVn-tA@adelphia.com...
> It looks like we really got our wires crossed on this one- shall we
try
> again with a clean slate?
>
>

No Problem.. :-)

Elector

"Scott Stephenson" <scott.stephensonson@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:jsydnVC3b8fzvA3dRVn-vw@adelphia.com...
<snip>
> No- they can choose not to provide service to you a second time. They are
> under no obligation to provide service to everyone, and as long as they
are
> consistent in their application of the policy, not in violation of any
fair
> trade laws.
>
>

The utilities are under the Public Service Commission in New York State, it
is their guidelines and regulations that the companies are under. In the
case of the gas company or electric company or even the telephone company
(landline) they MUST provide service even if you owe them money. It the law.

However the wireless segment of the telephone company may not be under the
public service commission rules and regs. I will look in McKinney's laws
this afternoon if I get the chance. If they are for sake of discussion then
any internal black list would be "illegal" and non-enforceable outside of
the regular collection laws which are in place. A good analogy of this would
be a consumer gets a Chapter 7 and the company although forbidden by federal
law cannot collect the debt later notes that you once owed it and now
refuses service. The company is now in violation of not only federal statute
but state law as well.

That is why I am assuming here that any sort of internal black list would be
highly suspicious as to being enforceable. Remember a few years ago those
stupid commercials were this lady was cut off while talking on her home
phone and the ad states " Get a new connection and keep your existing number
even if you owe money to the phone company" I wish I could remember that
company.

Elector

"Elector" <elector@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:f36kc.39626$2v.2694@nwrdny02.gnilink.net...
>

> >
> >
>
> The utilities are under the Public Service Commission in New York State,
it
> is their guidelines and regulations that the companies are under. In the
> case of the gas company or electric company or even the telephone company
> (landline) they MUST provide service even if you owe them money. It the
law.

True, but we are not dealing with a utility- at least not yet. It wouldn't
surprise me to see cellular added to the list at some point.

>
> However the wireless segment of the telephone company may not be under the
> public service commission rules and regs. I will look in McKinney's laws
> this afternoon if I get the chance. If they are for sake of discussion
then
> any internal black list would be "illegal" and non-enforceable outside of
> the regular collection laws which are in place. A good analogy of this
would
> be a consumer gets a Chapter 7 and the company although forbidden by
federal
> law cannot collect the debt later notes that you once owed it and now
> refuses service. The company is now in violation of not only federal
statute
> but state law as well.

If all of your statements apply to utilities under the control of the PSC, I
agree. However, I don't think the same logic or analogy can be applied to
those not under the regulation of the PSC. Another analogy would be that I
own a business and you do business with me to the tune of $1000, which is
ultimately wiped out through bankruptcy. Ten years later, you come to me
again and ask for my services. I remember our previous relationship and
decide you are not the type of customer I want to do business with. I would
be within my rights in using my personal 'blacklist' to determine who I want
to do business with- is it any different?

>
> That is why I am assuming here that any sort of internal black list would
be
> highly suspicious as to being enforceable. Remember a few years ago those
> stupid commercials were this lady was cut off while talking on her home
> phone and the ad states " Get a new connection and keep your existing
number
> even if you owe money to the phone company" I wish I could remember that
> company.
>

But remember one thing- in this case, the OP is not stating that they are
being refused service. Instead, VZ is asking for a very high deposit,and is
willing to do business once the deposit requirement is met. If the internal
list is used to not deny service, but determine the terms of new service,
I'm not sure they are out of bounds in any way.

"Scott Stephenson" <scott.stephensonson@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:SIKdnVRKD_-xHAzdRVn-jA@adelphia.com...
<snip>
> But remember one thing- in this case, the OP is not stating that
they are
> being refused service. Instead, VZ is asking for a very high
deposit,and is
> willing to do business once the deposit requirement is met. If the
internal
> list is used to not deny service, but determine the terms of new
service,
> I'm not sure they are out of bounds in any way.
>
>

Scott very true, in as much the original debt (the $1000.00 analogy)
was owed to you and is no longer collectable you would be right to
refuse service. In the telephone company and other utilities again
they cannot ask for certain things and must give service. And in that
you are also correct. As if they are a utility. And not a private
company.

I was looking at McKinney's today and could not find any laws relating
to deposits other than the land line companies that must pay interest
and must give back within 6 months etc. I also found something to the
effect that "utilities" may not discriminate against a customer in
securing service due to any income deriving from public assistance,
disability or social security, or where it can be established via
gender or marital status or sexual orientation. Then again it was
numerous in the information that it kept directing me to other volumes
such as General Business Obligations, CPLR, Public Utilities etc. I
would have to be a lawyer to figure it all out. ha ha

Elector

Well, if you want to call it a blacklist, I guess you can. All the
credit dept has to do is type in your Social Security number, and your
info comes up if you had an account with them in the past. Your past
performance is taken into account if you apply for a new account. If
you haven't had an account with them, they just go off data from
credit bureaus (Experian is the main one they use). People with no
credit history at all are usually asked for a $400 deposit. To be
asked for a $1000 deposit, you must have either stiffed them in the
past, or your credit bureau history is bad (worse than your friend has
told you.)


"Breezy" <suziq4you2@yahoo.com> wrote in message news:<V8zic.21659$aQ6.1320120@attbi_s51>...
> Does anyone know if VZW maintains an internal blacklist of people who owe
> money to Verizon (land line) or Verizon Busness Services?
>
> I think my freind is getting the big ($1000) deposit excuse, because of an
> old unpaid house phone bill.
>
> VZW is say its his credit but we've gone over it and it's not that bad. He
> has Gotten a mortgage, car loan, credit cards and other credit with the bad
> credit VZW is talking about. Yesterday He applied for and got approval for
> credit at Cingular, T-Mobile and Sprint, without a deposit.
>
> I am realy curious about this.